Wall construction



J. J. VAN LOGHEM ET AL 3,416,275

' WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed June 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 17, 1968 NLOGHEM ETAL 3,416,275

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed June 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet z Dec. 17, 1968 J JVAN LOGHEM ET AL 3,416,275

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed June 22. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 y FIGS.

Dec. 17, 1968 J. J. VAN LOGHEM ET AL 3,416,275

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed June 22, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United StatesPatent 3,416,275 WALL CONSTRUCTION Johannes Jacobus van Loghem, 83Sophia St., and

Johannes La Grouw, Te Wairoa Road, both of Rotorua, North Island, NewZealand Filed June 22, 1966, Ser. No. 559,566 Claims priority,application New Zealand, June 23, 1965, 142,048 8 Claims. (Cl. 52-282)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wall construction in which columns havinglongitudinal key locking slots and connecting members provided with keymembers and splayed engagement means is such that the key members areadapted to engage in the locking slots with planks arranged to fitbetween adjacent columns. The planks have splayed engageable slots inthe ends bearing against the columns with such engageable slots beingcomplementary to the splayed engagement means. The splayed engagementmeans are adapted to engage within the complementary engageable slots atthe ends of the planks for holding the planks in association with thecolumns.

This invention relates to building construction and particularly to awall.

The present invention is concerned with the construction of walls bothexterior and interior or partition walls and has been devised to connectthe components making up these walls in a way which will save labor inthe construction of the building in that a strong structure can berelatively quickly and easily erected.

A further aspect of the invention consists in a wall constructioncomprising columns carrying longitudinal key locking slots therein,connecting members having key members and splayed engagement means, saidkey members being adapted to engage in said key locking slots and planksarranged to fit between adjacent columns, said said planks havingsplayed engageable slot means in the ends bearing against the columns,said engageable slot means being complementary with said splayedengaging means of said connecting members with said splayed engagingmeans of said connecting members being adapted to engage within saidcomplementary engageable slot means at the end of said planks to holdsaid planks in association with said columns.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with referenceto the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a typical horizontal section through walls according to thepresent invention,

FIGURE 2 shows a sectional detail of a corner post,

FIGURE 3 shows a sectional detail of a connecting FIGURE 4 shows asectional detail of a connecting member,

FIGURE 5 shows a sectional detail of an internal corner post,

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a corner column used in the structure,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a connecting post,

FIGURE 8 is a detail perspective View of the connecting member adaptedto join the post to the plank in the wall,

FIGURE 9 is a perspective detail of an alternative form of connectingmember,

FIGURE 10 is a view partly broken away and in elevation of a doubletongue and groove plank used in the wall, preferably for exterior walls,and

FIGURE 11 is a view partly broken away and in eleva- "Ice tion of asingle tongue and groove plank used, preferably for internal partitions.

In the preferred form of the invention a number of columns as will bedescribed in detail herebelow are appropriately positioned to extendfrom a prelaid floor structure. The columns herein described are notrequired to support any weight load as this is carried through the solidplank walls. Columns are used herein to described these members whichprovide some lateral support and operate to connect the ends of theplanks. The columns are preferably formed as extruded aluminum alloymembers and extend for the total height of the wall. However, suitablyrigid extruded plastics members could also be used.

A corner column 1 shown in detail in FIGURES 2 and 6 is a substantiallysquare post of hollow cross section having its outer two sides 2 and 3at right angles one to the other arranged with an aesthetically pleasingfinish provided for example by small corrugations in the surfacethereof. Projections 2a and 3a extend beyond inner walls 4 and 5 toprovide weathering strips arranged to engage with the outer face ofplanks 6 being joined. A weather seal 7 may be inserted by any sealingtool or gun between the extensions 2a and 3a on the side of theassociated plank 6. Ribs 8 project in from the weather extensions 2a and3a preferably to engage with the outer face of the plank per se anddefine a cavity in which the seal may be placed. In this way asatisfactory weather seal is provided between the post and the planks.

The inner sides 4 and 5 have a rounded inner corner from which projectfurther ribs 9 shaped to hold a quadrilateral beading 10 adapted to fitwithin the interior corner made between the planks 6 joined at rightangles.

Each corner column 1 includes key locking slots on the sides which areabutted by the ends of the planks, that is the internal sides 4 and 5.These key locking slots 12 comprise a thickened strip in which a groovehaving an enlarged interior cavity 13 and a neck opening 14 is formedwith the neck opening directed outwardly.

In the end of each plank 6 adapted to be abutted against the column isformed a splayed engageable slot means 11. The splayed engageable slotmay be in the shape of a dovetailed or fishtailed shaped slot and ispreferably formed by two cuts by any suitable cutting tool, for examplea saw with the cuts inclined at an angle one to the other so that thesaw cuts are adjacent one to the other on the edge of the plank anddiverge as they extend inwardly.

Connecting members 15 are provided to join the column 1 to the planks 6abutted thereagainst and are manufactured in a similar manner and from asimilar material. Each connecting member 15 comprises a splayed engagingmeans 16 complementary to the engageable slot means 11 formed in the endof the plank 6 and a key member engageable within the key locking slotassociated with the column 1. The key member comprises a bulbous rib 17connected to the splayed engaging means 16 by a neck 18 with the neck 18and bulbous rib 17 being complementary to the necked opening 14 and thecavity 13 in the column 1. In this way the connecting member 15 can beused to hold the planks firmly locked against the column 1.

The connecting members 15 are normally provided in lengths shorter thanthe total height of the wall, for example in lengths of approximatelytwo feet or slightly more although longer lengths can be used. Thelength of the connecting member is preferably inserted with the keymember engaged in the key locking slot. The planks may then be fitteddown from the top of the connecting member by engaging the splayedengageable slot with the complementary splayed engaging means 16. Byusing the shorter lengths of connecting members 15 it is not necessaryto lift each plank to the total height of the column and this aids inerecting a wall more quickly. The connecting means is preferably a forcefit with both the key locking slot and the splayed engageable slot 11 sothat a firm connection is provided between the planks and the column.

A weathering rib 19 projects from the internal faces 4 and 5 of thecolumn between the weather extensions 2a and 3a and the key lockingslots 12. This weathering rib 19 is shaped to engage within acomplementary slot 20 formed in the end of the plank 6. The slot 20 isalso preferably formed as an inclined saw cut and the Weathering rib 19is Lshaped in cross section with the dimension of the rib and slotarranged so that both the toe and heel of the J engage with the wall ofthe slot 20, thu providing an etfective weather seal.

The connecting columns also include an intermediate or T-shaped column21 (FIGURE 3) arranged to join adjacent aligned lengths of planking 6and if necessary to form a connection from which an internal wall 24 canbe taken. In cross section the column 21 comprises a shank 22 having keylocking slots on either side thereof and intermediate of the length. Afurther key locking slot is provided on the inner end of the shank 22and these key locking slots are identical with the key locking slots 12described in connection with the column 1 and similar reference numeralsare used to indicate the various parts on the drawings. Also weatherribs 19 extend from either side of the shank between the key locking;slots 12 and head 23 of the column 21. The arrangement of the parts issimilar to the arrangement of the parts on the inner faces of the column1 so that planks having identical slots cut therein may be engagedeither with the column 1 or the column 21. The head 23 operates as theweather extensions in a similar way to the extensions 2a and 3a.

Pictorial details of the column 1, joining column 21 and the connector15, are illustrated in more detail in FIGURES 2 to 8 of the accompanyingdrawings.

A modified connecting member 25 may be used to join adjacent planks. Theconnecting member 25 comprises splayed engaging means 29 extending inopposite directions with the splayed engaging means being arranged toengage within complementary engageable slot means formed in the planksbeing joined. The splayed engaging means -29 are preferably connected bya throated section 28 smaller in section than the opening to thefishtailed slot in the plank being joined, engaging means 29 being ofsimilar size and shape to the engaging means 16 and the connectingmembers 15. The connecting member 25 may be used to join adjacentlengths of planking or to join an interior wall to an exterior wall.Also it may be used in short lengths as above described with theconnector 15.

A- detail of the member 25 is illustrated in FIGURE 9 and also detailsof the planking used are illustrated in FIGURES l0 and 11. The plankingillustrated in FIG- URE 1 0 is the planking normally used on exteriorwalls and shows the additional groove 20 which is provided for theweather rib 19. This plank is normally protected with an aluminumcladding (not shown in the acompanying drawings) on the outer facethereof. The planking illustrated in FIGURE 11 is a thinner plankingnormally used for internal partitions.

Where the wall is to include a door frame, window frame or otherfittings conventional building procedures may be used. As was stated atypical horizontal section is illustrated in FIGURE 1. Because of theslot 19 provided in the end of the planking it is possible for a weatherseal 34 to be used. This weather seal comprises an aluminum member whichis inserted as is illustrated to assist in providing a weather sealaround the fittings.

In use and to erect a wall according to the present invention thefoundations for the building are installed in the normal way and theplates are laid on top of the foundations. The floor joists supported onthe plates again in accordance with conventional building techniqueshave the ends thereof dovetailed and arranged to engage withindovetailed grooves provided in the face of the bottom plank 6. Thebottom plank 6 is then fitted in place and the column, either the cornercolumn 1 or the connecting column 21, are installed so that they aresupported to extend up from the plate. If so desiredthe column may befixed in position by nailing or any other suitable means but sufficientsupport is generally provided through the engagement of the plank 6 withthe floor joist as above described. When the columns are in position thefirst connecting member 15 is inserted to firmly lock the column to thefirst plank. Subsequent planks are then passed down from the top of theconnecting member and the wall is erected by continuing to placesuccessive planks one on top of the other with further connecting meansbeing added where necessary.

It will be clear from the foregoing that by using the present inventionwalls may be quickly and easily erected to provide a strong and durablestructure. It is of course desirable for the planking to be precut tolength and have the slots formed in the ends thereof sothat in theon-site erection the component parts merely have to be assembled. Thisallows factory techniques to be used in preparing the material andreduces considerably the onsite erecting time.

What we claim is:

1. A wall construction comprising columns having longitudinal keylocking slots therein, connecting members having key members and splayedengagement means, said key members being adapted to engage in said keylocking slots, planks arranged to fit between adjacent columns, saidplanks having splayed engageable slot means in the ends bearing againstthe columns, said engageable slot means being complementary with saidsplayed engagement means of said connecting members with said splayedengagement means of said connecting members being adapted to engagewithin said complementary engageable slot means at the end of saidplanks to hold said planks in association. with said colums, and saidcolumns including a corner connecting post of hollow cross-section witheach such corner post provided on the inner angle thereof with aplurality of ribs which hold a quadrilateral member in the angle betweenthe plank ends.

2. A wall construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said columnsinclude coupling posts positioned at and acting as connecting membersbetween adjacent aligned sections of planking, said coupling postscomprising T- formation posts each having longitudinal key locking slotson either side of the shank of the T.

3. A wall construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said columnsinclude weathering ribs and said planks being joined have slots formedin the ends thereof to receive said ribs, with said weathering ribs eachhaving a J-formation in section and being of a size such relative to theslot in the plank that the heel and toe of the J engages with the wallsof the associated slot in said plank.

4. A wall construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said columnsinclude weathering extensions which lie adjacent to the exterior facesof the planks near the ends thereof.

5. A wall construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein said splayedengagement means of said connecting members comprise outwardly extendingarms projecting from adjacent said key member and arranged to engagewithin the splayed engageable slot formed as a fishtailed slot in theends of the plank complementary to the projecting arms and said keymembers of said connecting members comprising a bulbous rib memberconnected by a neck to the projecting arm of the connecting member withthe key locking slots in said columns each having an enlarged interiorcavity with a necked opening to the cavity, the cavity and opening beingcomplementary to the bulbous member and neck respectively.

6. A wall construction as claimed in claim 1, wherein further connectingmembers having splayed engagement means extending in opposite directionshave one splayed engagement means engaging a complementary splayedengageable slot in one wall of planks and the other splayed engagementmeans engaging within a complementary splayed engageable slot in theadjacent wall of planks being joined and with a throated means betweensaid splayed engagement means.

7. A wall construction comprising sections of interlocked planks,connecting columns for connecting planks, said columns havinglongitudinal key locking slots on the faces abutting against the ends ofplanks being joined, each said key locking slot having an enlargedinterior cavity with a necked opening to the cavity, and a connectingmember comprising in turn a key member and splayed engagement means,said splayed engagement means comprising outwardly extending arms andsaid key member comprising a bulbous rib member and a neck stripconnecting said bulbous rib member to said projecting arms with theplanks arranged to fit between adjacent columns having splayedengageable slot means in the ends bearing against the columns, saidsplayed engageable slot means being formed as a fishtailed slot andbeing complementary to the projecting arms of said connecting member andwith said key member being complementary and adapted to engage in saidkey locking slots so that said connecting members are arranged to holdsaid planks in association with said connecting columns.

8. A walled construction as claimed in claim 7 including a furtherconnecting member, said connecting member being defined by a centralthroated section provided with splayed engagement means in the form ofoutwardly extending arms integrally formed for projecting from each sideof the throated section, said arms being arranged to engage within thefishtailed slot in the planks being connected and said throated sectionbeing of a lesser diameter than the opening in the slot in the planks,the throat being of a length such that the arms engaged within one slotmay be moved to a position where there is freedom of movement as theplank being placed is passed there along to a final position abuttedwithin an aligned plank whereupon the arms are firmly locked inengagement with the fishtailed slot.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 292,291 1/1884 Eddy 52-285 X794,595 7/1905 Ducker 52-282 X 1,985,992 1/1935 Hayman 52-586 X2,204,319 6/1940 Parsons et a1. 52-282 X 2,363,405 11/ 1944 Eichelberger52-586 3,146,497 9/1964 Short et al. 52-282 X FRANK L. ABBOTT, PrimaryExaminer.

PRICE C. FAW, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R.

